Tributes pour in for Kiernan AKA Forbes as South African rapper is dead
The Times in South Africa has confirmed that rapper Kiernan Forbes, famously known as AKA, is one of the two men who were shot dead in Durban.
The outlet reports he was shot outside a popular restaurant in Florida RD on Friday, February 10, 2023. The police are yet to reveal more details regarding the investigation, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear at the time of writing.
AKA was among some of the best South African rappers, having written popular songs such as Lemons (Leomande), Fela Vaersace, Make Me Sing, and more.
Who was Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes?
Born in 1988 in Cape Town, South Africa, Kiernan had been in the industry for more than a decade. According to Discogs.com, he kick-started his career by being a part of a group called Entity with two other members, but he’s believed to have gone solo later.
AKA’s music came to be known to a wider audience through his single, Victory Lap, from his debut studio album, Alter Ego, in 2010. Over the years, he released many albums.
Kierman attended WWE live events in Johannesburg and Cape Town as the special guest in 2018 and was seen as the roastee in the Comedy Central Roast special in 2019, which was a hit among social media users.
The rapper shared a daughter named Kairo with his former partner DJ Zinhle. Kiernan is said to have been in a relationship with a woman named Nadia Nakai at the time of his death.
South African rapper shot dead
A first responder reportedly told News24 that the rapper was fatally shot when he was standing on the pavement outside the restaurant. The incident occurred shortly after 10 pm.
Police spokesperson KwaZulu-Natal confirmed that the victim of the shooting was a “well-known” rapper, but refused to disclose the identity and further information as the investigation is ongoing.
The Times then confirmed that it was AKA who passed away.
Kiernan was set to perform in the city on Friday night when he fell victim to the gun violence. A couple of hours before his death, he had also announced his upcoming album on Instagram alongside a row of pictures of himself.
The rapper boasted around 3.3 million followers on Instagram and has over 489,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Fans pay tribute
The tragic death of AKA has left fans devastated. His latest post about his forthcoming album is now filled with condolences.
One fan wrote: “To even think that he posted this five hours ago healthy and happy. Now we are saying RIP to him how? This is messed up, trust me. This life is truly unpredictable,” wrote one.
Another said: “Rest up Big Man, may your family find peace.”
“This cannot be true. You blessed us with your talent. My prayers to the family. We love you,” read one comment.
Another devastated fan said: “Like it honestly hasn’t hit me yet”
